School’s out for summer!

By Ashima Sethi and Raksha Sachdev

Unlike competing luxury resorts, the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa means business when it comes to curating a truly unique getaway for their guests, going so far as to create their own mythical history to add to the experience: Legend has it that the resort was formerly the fictional Lamarck University, a prestigious educational institute for island residents between the 1880s and the 1940s. Back then, Phu Quoc was a port town filled with sea merchants, but once sea trade was replaced by other industries, the town was left abandoned. After the university closed its doors, its spacious grounds were given a modern reimagining courtesy of real-estate developers, Sun Group. With the help of world-renowned architect Bill Bensley, well-regarded as the ‘king of exotic luxury resorts,’ the site was transformed
into one of the world’s most unique luxury properties.

Our adventure began with a short 1-hour flight from Bangkok to Phu Quoc International Airport on Bangkok Airways. With direct flights available, getting to Phu Quoc, also known as the ‘Pearl of Southern Vietnam,’ has never been easier. Once we arrived, we were swiftly shuttled to the resort in one of their comfortable vans. Upon reaching the resort gates, we were greeted by two towering Vietnamese Ridgeback dog statues, which we would soon learn represent the adored university mascot.

As we entered the airy lobby, we were immediately transported into a fairy tale world of patterned façades and intricate university-inspired décor. The elaborate architecture, coupled with the staff’s full commitment to the ‘history’, helped formed a cohesive story of a university-turned-hotel that absorbed us from the moment we checked-in. It felt like we had escaped somewhere equally as exciting as Hogwarts, but instead of Dumbledore at the helm, Dean Ty Collins, better known as the resort’s dynamic General Manager, was in charge.

The resort’s design aesthetic cleverly merges contemporary elements with old-world French architecture and subtle Vietnamese touches. Think charming colonial buildings painted in pastel palettes, and walking lanes adorned with colourful lanterns that create a dreamlike atmosphere. The guestrooms are housed in ‘Departments’ ranging from Zoology to Architecture, and feature accents like leather-bound books, patterned murals, and monogrammed furniture that allude to each subject.

We had the pleasure of staying in the Deluxe Emerald Bay View room in the Shell & Botany Department. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a large private terrace overlooking the pool and the ocean created a bright and breezy space we were more than happy to relax in, and the spacious bathroom featured an extra-large bathtub and rain shower for extra indulgence.

The resort also boasts luxurious one-bedroom to three-bedroom villas equipped with private pools. However, if you are travelling in a large group, we recommend booking the seven-bedroom beachfront Lamarck House with a seafront infinity pool, capacious marble bathrooms, and sprawling living and dining quarters.